Vehicle occupancy sensor systems and methods

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an occupancy sensor system for a vehicle. The system includes a central processing unit (CPU) electrically connected to a power source of the vehicle, one or more sensors for inputting raw data into the CPU, an electronic device with a user interface, and a wireless communications bus connected to the CPU. The CPU compares the raw data received from the sensors with a predetermined safety threshold and transmits an alert to the electronic device via the wireless communications bus if the raw data is not within the safety threshold. The system further includes a global positioning system (GPS) transceiver coupled to the vehicle for receiving radio transmissions from GPS satellites, and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader chip.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle occupancy monitoring system comprising:
 at least one processor disposed in a vehicle, the at least one processor operatively coupled to at least one presence sensor, to at least one environmental sensor, and to a memory; 
 an occupancy monitoring component that collects and processes occupancy data from the at least one presence sensor within the vehicle to determine an occupancy status; 
 an environmental conditions component that collects and processes environmental data from the at least one environmental sensor to determine an environmental status; 
 a detection logic that receives and processes the occupancy status and the environmental status to correlate the occupancy status and the environmental status to output an occupancy pattern signature; 
 a threshold identifier that receives and retains the occupancy pattern signature from the detection logic and compares the occupancy pattern signature with a predetermined value of parameters that define a threshold to determine a dangerous environmental condition when the threshold is exceeded, and to determine a safe environmental condition when the threshold is not exceeded; and 
 an artificial intelligence (AI) module that operates to execute a set of instructions responsive to the determination a dangerous environmental condition by the threshold identifier, and to take at least one mitigation action responsive to such determination, such at least one mitigation action including,
 taking into account the determination of whether the vehicle is in a confined space, operating at least one vehicle system to mitigate the determined dangerous environmental condition,
 such operation including, responsive to a determination that the vehicle is in a confined space, one of turning off the ignition of the vehicle (if on) and keeping the ignition of the vehicle off (if not on). 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication component, further wherein said AI module, in response to the threshold identifier determining a presence of the dangerous environmental condition, instructs the communication component to send an alert to a remote electronic device. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication component, further wherein said AI module, in response to the threshold identifier determining a presence of the dangerous environmental condition, instructs the communication component to send an authorization to a pre-mitigation assessment module, the pre-mitigation assessment module receiving data from the at least one environmental sensor to identify a safe rescue, and authorizing such safe rescue once identified. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an environmental controls component which, in response to receiving the authorization for the safe rescue, operates at least one vehicle system to mitigate the dangerous environmental condition. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one vehicle system includes at least one window control system. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is autonomous and said step of taking at least one mitigation action includes directing the autonomous vehicle to drive away from the current location.